Years back, i was surfing through wikipedia and found an article on Gandikota. The image of Penna gorge made me add this place to my list.
Recently, i was getting bored of driving all the way to visit a man-made artifice. Decided to appreciate beauty of nature, thus this trip.
Two bikes and four people. This time we started off before sun rise. While sun still contemplating of rising or not, i am sipping coffee miles away from home. Raju does not need breaks, Chandu hates them. I wish to go at my usual speed with usual frequency of tea-breaks but, we have long way to go. Target is to reach Gandikota by 2PM , finish sightseeing there and go to Belum caves on the way back next day.
Thanks to Chandu, tea-breaks are contained. We went in to Kurnool city just to buy Bun-Cova as Dixit wanted. Before noon, we reached Orwakal for lunch. After having meals, except me rest of them went rock climbing. I came to bike, to realize that the monkeys are creating havoc there. I stood there guarding the bikes.
Dixit realized that his Nike cap was missing from the Tank cover of bike. And i could not find strip of painkillers.
Note: Never leave any valuables with bikes when parking at Orwakal APTDC Haritha Resort, unless you can convince monkeys to bring back your items.
Crossed Bethamcherla ghat road and to reach Banaganapalli. Its almost 3 by the time we reached there. After tea, we started off to Jammalamadugu, which 60KM. The road is well laid with no potholes. Vast farms lands on either side of the road, and trees making canopy made the journey less tiresome.
We have inquired for lodges just to make sure we have alternatives if APTDC Haritha Resorts got filled. The Tea-seller told us that there are lodges. The time was 5PM. It took another 20 min to travel 15KM on a lonely road i have ever traveled.
The APTDC resort designed like a small fort is economical and comfortable. The room boy advised us to go to valley next day morning as its getting dark already, and there is a leopard out there snatching the cattle.
The whole Gandikota village is inside the fort. The way from the first gate to second gate is designed with sharp curves to slowdown the invading enemy. Once we passed the second gate, a charminar stood there welcoming us. Its dwarf and ugly version Charminar of Hyderabad.
We went to see an old jail, now resident of bats. It was not so impressive, but the view of Madhavaraya temple from there is.
Me and Dixit went ahead to reach temple, Raju and Chandu went to see Jama Masjid and came there. Instead of going to the temple, we took the dirt road and drove till we can ride safely. There is a lake and abandoned stone buildings there. I was thinking of Leopard , and Raju gone into nostalgia and started eating fruits of an unknown tree which he claims to have tasted in childhood. I too had one.
In countryside, darkness gets an easy victory over dusk. We started walking back and as we are contemplating the leopard attack, moving figures appeared on either side of the way all of a sudden. Turns out they are villagers going back to village.
Went back to resort, continued chitchatting till sleep came over.
Day 2
Fatigue from previous day didnt allow me get out of bed when alarm went off. I want to go out and see hills and valleys but body wants to take rest. Finally got up at 7AM and by 9 everybody is awake and ready to go. When asked for directions an autorikshaw driver mislead us to hills rather than valley.
I could not figure out how to ask "View point" in Telugu. Cant ask for directions for penna river as it flows great distances. I just want to stand at the view point, but i dont know how to ask. We shown the picture from internet to a local guy and he said the location "behind" the fort.
We drove into the fort. Raju and Dixit started taking videos. We pulling each other legs and parked bikes at Jama Masjid and went ahead. There was a board saying that the way leads to Queens's palace, Gun foundry and river front. Assured by the sign board we went ahead. We crossed the ruins to be lost. Yes , we are lost, there is no river to be seen, just rocky hills with no one around. The local guy on the hiss said behind the fort, so i was looking for end of the fort. Our trials to find the view point yielded no results. With the thought of Leopard hanging over the head, we decided to go back and return with a guide.
As we reached Jama Masjid again we asked for direction to the valley to couple of guys with beers. They pointed out to the right side of Masjid. At the corner there is a sign board which says "Raghavanatha temple, Jama Masjid and Penna valley".
NOTE: To reach the view point , enter the fort , pass by charminar , at Jamamasjid take right.
Went there, enjoyed the view, took few snaps of the valley and of each other till it become afternoon.
Chandu noticed a huge nail in my bikes back tire. We thought the nail itself is stopping the venting of air. Went to resort, packed our things and checked out.
Madhavaraya temple should not be missed. Legend is that the God in the temple could not tolerate atrocities by Muslim invaders and walked out in human form . The temple is God less. However the sculptures eccentric.
Stopped at a puncture shop in Jammalamaudugu. I was sure that the nail caused two punctures to the tube. When the mechanic removed the nail and poured water on tire to check for the leakage, there is none. We are saved.
After having lunch at a mess with local cuisines , we discussed sometime over on which route to take. It was 3.30PM already. Our target is to reach NH7 before night falls.
We decided to take Tadipatri route and join NH7 at Gooty. The route is longer but better than the one we traveled yesterday. I have traveled in those roads before when i was working in Anantapur. The route is full of small and dull villages. Had a tea-break at Yadiki and we reached Gooty. Raju started driving from there.
Reached Kurnool by 8 PM. Now i am sure that we can reach hyderabad before morning. My energy levels are going down and the headache becoming annoying. After swallowing a tablet and a cup of coffee we resumed.
I traveled nights before, always hated it. This time, i tried splashing. It works to keep you awake at least for a while. Then tried chewing gums, they work fine as well. Sleep is one thing to handle and darkness is another. I wonder if any scientist is working on making Damber which is white. That should solve half of problems of night time driving.
We reached Judcherla at midnight, by 2 AM Shamshabad.
Overall the trip went well without hiccups. But should have read blogs to get more information on the place.
Thanks to Chandu, tea-breaks are contained. We went in to Kurnool city just to buy Bun-Cova as Dixit wanted. Before noon, we reached Orwakal for lunch. After having meals, except me rest of them went rock climbing. I came to bike, to realize that the monkeys are creating havoc there. I stood there guarding the bikes.
Dixit realized that his Nike cap was missing from the Tank cover of bike. And i could not find strip of painkillers.
Note: Never leave any valuables with bikes when parking at Orwakal APTDC Haritha Resort, unless you can convince monkeys to bring back your items.
Crossed Bethamcherla ghat road and to reach Banaganapalli. Its almost 3 by the time we reached there. After tea, we started off to Jammalamadugu, which 60KM. The road is well laid with no potholes. Vast farms lands on either side of the road, and trees making canopy made the journey less tiresome.
We have inquired for lodges just to make sure we have alternatives if APTDC Haritha Resorts got filled. The Tea-seller told us that there are lodges. The time was 5PM. It took another 20 min to travel 15KM on a lonely road i have ever traveled.
The APTDC resort designed like a small fort is economical and comfortable. The room boy advised us to go to valley next day morning as its getting dark already, and there is a leopard out there snatching the cattle.The whole Gandikota village is inside the fort. The way from the first gate to second gate is designed with sharp curves to slowdown the invading enemy. Once we passed the second gate, a charminar stood there welcoming us. Its dwarf and ugly version Charminar of Hyderabad. We went to see an old jail, now resident of bats. It was not so impressive, but the view of Madhavaraya temple from there is.
Me and Dixit went ahead to reach temple, Raju and Chandu went to see Jama Masjid and came there. Instead of going to the temple, we took the dirt road and drove till we can ride safely. There is a lake and abandoned stone buildings there. I was thinking of Leopard , and Raju gone into nostalgia and started eating fruits of an unknown tree which he claims to have tasted in childhood. I too had one.In countryside, darkness gets an easy victory over dusk. We started walking back and as we are contemplating the leopard attack, moving figures appeared on either side of the way all of a sudden. Turns out they are villagers going back to village.Went back to resort, continued chitchatting till sleep came over.
Day 2
Fatigue from previous day didnt allow me get out of bed when alarm went off. I want to go out and see hills and valleys but body wants to take rest. Finally got up at 7AM and by 9 everybody is awake and ready to go. When asked for directions an autorikshaw driver mislead us to hills rather than valley.
I could not figure out how to ask "View point" in Telugu. Cant ask for directions for penna river as it flows great distances. I just want to stand at the view point, but i dont know how to ask. We shown the picture from internet to a local guy and he said the location "behind" the fort.
We drove into the fort. Raju and Dixit started taking videos. We pulling each other legs and parked bikes at Jama Masjid and went ahead. There was a board saying that the way leads to Queens's palace, Gun foundry and river front. Assured by the sign board we went ahead. We crossed the ruins to be lost. Yes , we are lost, there is no river to be seen, just rocky hills with no one around. The local guy on the hiss said behind the fort, so i was looking for end of the fort. Our trials to find the view point yielded no results. With the thought of Leopard hanging over the head, we decided to go back and return with a guide.
As we reached Jama Masjid again we asked for direction to the valley to couple of guys with beers. They pointed out to the right side of Masjid. At the corner there is a sign board which says "Raghavanatha temple, Jama Masjid and Penna valley".
NOTE: To reach the view point , enter the fort , pass by charminar , at Jamamasjid take right.Went there, enjoyed the view, took few snaps of the valley and of each other till it become afternoon.
Chandu noticed a huge nail in my bikes back tire. We thought the nail itself is stopping the venting of air. Went to resort, packed our things and checked out.
Madhavaraya temple should not be missed. Legend is that the God in the temple could not tolerate atrocities by Muslim invaders and walked out in human form . The temple is God less. However the sculptures eccentric.
Stopped at a puncture shop in Jammalamaudugu. I was sure that the nail caused two punctures to the tube. When the mechanic removed the nail and poured water on tire to check for the leakage, there is none. We are saved.
After having lunch at a mess with local cuisines , we discussed sometime over on which route to take. It was 3.30PM already. Our target is to reach NH7 before night falls.
We decided to take Tadipatri route and join NH7 at Gooty. The route is longer but better than the one we traveled yesterday. I have traveled in those roads before when i was working in Anantapur. The route is full of small and dull villages. Had a tea-break at Yadiki and we reached Gooty. Raju started driving from there.
Reached Kurnool by 8 PM. Now i am sure that we can reach hyderabad before morning. My energy levels are going down and the headache becoming annoying. After swallowing a tablet and a cup of coffee we resumed. I traveled nights before, always hated it. This time, i tried splashing. It works to keep you awake at least for a while. Then tried chewing gums, they work fine as well. Sleep is one thing to handle and darkness is another. I wonder if any scientist is working on making Damber which is white. That should solve half of problems of night time driving. We reached Judcherla at midnight, by 2 AM Shamshabad.
Overall the trip went well without hiccups. But should have read blogs to get more information on the place.
